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December 18, 2004
Faithfulness
I have been quite taken with Hebrews 12:1-3 lately.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
I feel that we are often hindered in our own faith by worrying about the faith or unbelief of others. While we should be witnesses to the truth, there is grave danger in fixing our eyes on the broken world around us rather than the perfection of Jesus.
We should lead by faithfully fixing our eyes on Jesus, and the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control that result will witness to those who are lost.
I believe that as Christians when we see a lie, we should call it a lie. We should also expect most fallen men to believe the lie, and sin. We should forgive the sinner for being deceived. We have all been tempted and deceived at one time or another, and we should forgive as we have been forgiven.
If we don't live this way, we erode our witness. We are not fully trusting God's promises. We are buying into a deception ourselves. We become entangled in the sins of others, and fail to persevere on the course that God has marked out for us.
5 If anyone has caused grief, he has not so much grieved me as he has grieved all of you, to some extent not to put it too severely. 6 The punishment inflicted on him by the majority is sufficient for him. 7 Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. 8 I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 9The reason I wrote you was to see if you would stand the test and be obedient in everything. 10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven if there was anything to forgive I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.
Posted by jreighley at December 18, 2004 11:07 AM
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